Vote on: Early voting in Johnson County starts with busy first day

The countdown was on as 8:30 a.m. Tuesday approached.

In the basement of the Johnson County Courthouse, poll workers prepared for a line of voters that had been forming since earlier in the morning.

As the clock reached the magic number, applause and cheers erupted as election season officially kicked off.

“The polling place is open,” one poll worker announced above the din.

The small celebration in the basement of the courthouse marked the start of early voting for the general election, as a line of area residents dozens deep formed. Each wanted the opportunity to ensure their ballots were cast early.

While the race for president drove the heavy turnout on Tuesday, a full slate of contested races made early voting a priority this fall.

“It’s an important vote, more than ever. It really does feel that way,” said Terry Smith, a Greenwood resident who was first in line to early vote with his wife, Kathie.

This year’s general election is a loaded one. In addition to voting for U.S. president, residents will have several races to vote for, including school boards, the county council, county commissioners, state representatives in the House and the Senate, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, Indiana Attorney General and Indiana Governor. Prince’s Lake residents will also have a town council election for two seats, though those candidates aren’t contested.

A constitutional amendment is also on the ballot, asking whether the former state superintendent of public instruction position should be removed from the line of succession for Indiana governor. Three Indiana Supreme Court justices and two Court of Appeals judges are also up for retention.

All signs pointed to a massive turnout to vote this year, particularly for early voting, Johnson County Clerk Trena McLaughlin said last week.

That certainly seemed true on the first day of early voting. The line of voters stretched through the basement of the courthouse, snaking outside for much of the day.

People waited patiently for their turn to cast a ballot, chatting with each other or looking at their phones.

Terry and Kathie Smith had arrived at the courthouse shortly after 8 a.m. to get in line to vote. They wanted to ensure their votes were cast, and knew they had the opportunity Tuesday to take care of it.

“It’s important to get it in early, just in case you get sick or something else happens,” Kathie Smith said.

Other early voters wanted to take any uncertainty out of the process, just in case they wouldn’t be available on Election Day.

“We wanted to get it done ahead of time,” said Sue Weidman, a Greenwood resident.

Besides the presidential election, she was interested in the local school board races, which would help guide the schools in the coming years. The governor’s race was also a high priority for the state.

Despite the line, Weidman said the voting process had been a seamless one, getting her through after just a short wait.

“It was very organized, I went straight through with no problems,” she said.

Kegan Prentice, a New Whiteland resident, expects to be working on Election Day, making early voting the best option to cast a ballot.

“I work in elections, so I had to find the time to vote,” he said. “Can’t vote on Election Day.”

For Prentice, the governor’s race was one of the most important and interesting ones facing Indiana.

“We’ve had eight years of Gov. Holcomb. I think he’s offered good leadership and I’m excited for hopefully Gov. Braun to see what he can do to lead the state forward,” he said.

The courthouse was the first location in the county to welcome people for early voting and would remain the only location for the next two weeks.

From Oct. 21 through Nov. 1, six other early voting locations will open: the Franklin Parks & Recreation Center, the John R. Drybread Community Center in Edinburgh, and the Clark-Pleasant, Trafalgar, White River and Greenwood libraries.

People will also be able to cast early ballots at Greenwood Village on Oct. 28, Otterbein SeniorLife on Oct. 29 and Compass Park on Oct. 30.

To vote, people need to be registered and bring a valid driver’s license or state-issued identification card. McLaughlin said it is a very easy check-in process.

If a person cannot vote early or on Election Day, they can request an absentee ballot by calling the voter registration office at 317-346-4467 or going online at IndianaVoters.com. The last day to receive absentee ballot applications is Oct. 24.

WHERE TO VOTE EARLY

Here is a look at when and where voters can cast their ballot early. Early voting runs until Nov. 4.

Johnson County Courthouse, 5 E. Jefferson St., Franklin

• 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 8-11, Oct. 14-18, Oct. 21-25, Oct. 28-Nov. 1
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 2
• 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 4

Clark Pleasant Public Library, 350 Clearwater Boulevard, Whiteland

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-Nov. 1
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 2

Franklin Parks and Recreation Center, 396 Branigan Blvd.

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-Nov. 1
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 2

Greenwood Public Library (east door), 310 S. Meridian St.

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-Nov. 1
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 2

John R. Drybread Community Center, 100 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-Nov. 1
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 2

Trafalgar Public Library, 424 S. Tower St.

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-Nov. 1
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 2

White River Public Library, 1664 Library Blvd., Greenwood

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 21-Nov. 1
• 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 26, Nov. 2

Greenwood Village South Retirement Community, 295 Village Lane

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 28

Otterbein SeniorLife, 1070 W. Jefferson St., Franklin

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 29

Compass Park, 690 State St., Franklin

• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30

Source: Johnson County Voter Registration